This entry was posted on Friday, July 18th, 2014at 10:00 am by zoe.leahy@activenation.org.uk

GB All Stars Take On Australian National Badminton Team at Etwall Leisure Centre

Olympic silver medalists Gail Emms MBE and Nathan Robertson, plus Commonwealth Games silver and bronze medalist Jenny Wallwork will be part of the GB All Stars team which takes on the Australian National badminton team in an international exhibition at Etwall Leisure Centre tomorrow (July 19^th).

The Aussies have been busy training and preparing for the Commonwealth Games at the Active Nation venue in South Derbyshire – just as they did two years ago in preparation for the 2012 Olympics. The centre is a recognised national specialist badminton facility, with a six-court sports hall designed to National Badminton England standards.

As part of the visit, team coaches Lasse Bundgaard and Ricky Yu offered an insight into their coaching methods at a breakfast event for sports coaches, at the University of Derby.

The players have also been working with former GB Badminton director and head coach Andy Wood, who lives in the area and is now performance manager of the Derbyshire Institute of Sport.

The training camp has been made possible through a partnership of South Derbyshire District Council, Active Nation, the University of Derby and Derbyshire Sport.

Steve Smith, deputy contract manager for Active Nation in South Derbyshire, said: “This is another great opportunity to leave a legacy in South Derbyshire and in particular ensure that we continue to increase the number of people playing badminton at Etwall.”

Australia’s team includes 10 players – 2012 Olympians Ross Smith, Glenn Warfe and Renuga Veeran, plus Jeff Tho, Robin Middleton, Raymond Tam, Verdet Kessler, Rosie Tan, Jacqueline Guan and Gronya Somerville.

Coach Bundgaard said: “The camp will form an important part of the preparation for the Games in Glasgow and we are delighted to have the opportunity to be hosted at such a great facility in Etwall and to work with Andy Wood again.”

The exhibition match will be an opportunity for the local community to see top level badminton, before the Australian team leave on Sunday and make their way directly to Glasgow ready for the start of the Commonwealth Games.

Wood coached Simon Archer and Joanne Goode to Britain’s first Olympic medal, a bronze in Sydney in 2000, and Robertson and Emms to their silver in Athens in 2004.

He said: “I am looking forward to continuing my work with the players and coaches from Australia, many of who I know from my time spent coaching British players on the competition circuit.

“The facilities at Etwall Leisure Centre will be an ideal training ground for the teams in their final preparations for the Commonwealth Games.”

Frank McArdle, chief executive of South Derbyshire District Council, said: “We are extremely proud that the Australian badminton team has chosen to return and will be using our state of the art, Olympic standard badminton facilities at Etwall Leisure Centre once again.

“We wish the team every success at the Games and are delighted to be playing a small part in their preparations.”

A limited number of tickets for the international badminton exhibition event at Etwall Leisure Centre on Saturday, July 19, from 4pm, are now on sale from Swadlincote Tourist Information Centre on 01283 222848. Tickets – priced at £5 for adults, and £2.50 for children – must be purchased in advance and will not be available on the door. In addition to the competitive matches, the exhibition tournament will include off-court action such as smash and accuracy activities and an opportunity to meet the players and get their autographs.